227.10 Annotation
Guidelines promulgated outside the context of one particular contested case do not qualify for exception to the requirement that all rules must be filed under s. 227.023 [now s. 227.20]. Here, failure to file the guideline as a rule did not deprive the department of the authority to decide contested cases dealing with pregnancy leaves under the sex discrimination statute. Wisconsin Telephone Co. v. Department of Industry, Labor, and Human Relations, 228 NW 2d 649, 68 Wis. 2d 345, (1975).

227.10 Annotation
A memorandum announcing general policies and specific criteria governing all decisions on good time for mandatory release parole violations was a “rule" and should have been promulgated properly. State ex rel. Clifton v. Young, 133 Wis. 2d 193, 394 N.W.2d 769 (Ct. App. 1986).

227.10 Annotation
An agency may use policies and guidelines to assist in the implementation of administrative rules provided they are consistent with state and federal legislation. Tannler v. Department of Health and Social Services, 211 Wis. 2d 179, 564 NW 2d 735 (1997)

227.10 AnnotationUnder ss. 227.10 (2m) and 227.11 (2) (a), created by 2011 Wis. Act 21, an agency must have explicit authority to impose license and permit conditions and must have explicit authority for rulemaking. Act 21 makes clear that permit conditions and rulemaking may no longer be premised on implied agency authority. OAG 1-16

227.11(1)(1) Except as expressly provided, this chapter does not confer rule-making authority upon or augment the rule-making authority of any agency.

227.11(2)(2) Rule-making authority is expressly conferred on an agency as follows:

227.11(2)(a)(a) Each agency may promulgate rules interpreting the provisions of any statute enforced or administered by the agency, if the agency considers it necessary to effectuate the purpose of the statute, but a rule is not valid if the rule exceeds the bounds of correct interpretation. All of the following apply to the promulgation of a rule interpreting the provisions of a statute enforced or administered by an agency:

227.11(2)(a)1.1. A statutory or nonstatutory provision containing a statement or declaration of legislative intent, purpose, findings, or policy does not confer rule-making authority on the agency or augment the agency's rule-making authority beyond the rule-making authority that is explicitly conferred on the agency by the legislature.

227.11(2)(a)2.2. A statutory provision describing the agency's general powers or duties does not confer rule-making authority on the agency or augment the agency's rule-making authority beyond the rule-making authority that is explicitly conferred on the agency by the legislature.

227.11(2)(a)3.3. A statutory provision containing a specific standard, requirement, or threshold does not confer on the agency the authority to promulgate, enforce, or administer a rule that contains a standard, requirement, or threshold that is more restrictive than the standard, requirement, or threshold contained in the statutory provision.

227.11(2)(b)(b) Each agency may prescribe forms and procedures in connection with any statute enforced or administered by it, if the agency considers it necessary to effectuate the purpose of the statute, but this paragraph does not authorize the imposition of a substantive requirement in connection with a form or procedure.

227.11(2)(c)(c) Each agency authorized to exercise discretion in deciding individual cases may formalize the general policies evolving from its decisions by promulgating the policies as rules which the agency shall follow until they are amended or repealed. A rule promulgated in accordance with this paragraph is valid only to the extent that the agency has discretion to base an individual decision on the policy expressed in the rule.

227.11(2)(d)(d) An agency may promulgate rules implementing or interpreting a statute that it will enforce or administer after publication of the statute but prior to the statute's effective date. A rule promulgated under this paragraph may not take effect prior to the effective date of the statute that it implements or interprets.

227.11(2)(e)(e) An agency may not inform a member of the public in writing that a rule is or will be in effect unless the rule has been filed under s. 227.20 or unless the member of the public requests that information.

227.11 AnnotationUnder ss. 227.10 (2m) and 227.11 (2) (a), created by 2011 Wis. Act 21, an agency must have explicit authority to impose license and permit conditions and must have explicit authority for rulemaking. Act 21 makes clear that permit conditions and rulemaking may no longer be premised on implied agency authority. OAG 1-16

227.11 Annotation
Sub. (2) (a) clearly disallows rulemaking based on broad statements of policy or duty. Although sub. (2) (a) only speaks to rulemaking, it follows that an agency is prohibited from conditioning a permit based on broad statements of policy or duty. OAG 1-16.

227.113227.113
Incorporation of local, comprehensive planning goals. Each agency, where applicable and consistent with the laws that it administers, is encouraged to design the rules promulgated by the agency to reflect a balance between the mission of the agency and the goals specified in s. 1.13 (2).

227.114(1)(1) In this section, “small business" means a business entity, including its affiliates, which is independently owned and operated and not dominant in its field, and which employs 25 or fewer full-time employees or which has gross annual sales of less than $5,000,000.

227.114(2)(2) When an agency proposes or revises a rule that may have an effect on small businesses, the agency shall consider each of the following methods for reducing the impact of the rule on small businesses:

227.114(2)(a)(a) The establishment of less stringent compliance or reporting requirements for small businesses.

227.114(2)(b)(b) The establishment of less stringent schedules or deadlines for compliance or reporting requirements for small businesses.

227.114(2)(c)(c) The consolidation or simplification of compliance or reporting requirements for small businesses.

227.114(2)(d)(d) The establishment of performance standards for small businesses to replace design or operational standards required in the rule.

227.114(2)(e)(e) The exemption of small businesses from any or all requirements of the rule.

227.114(3)(3) The agency shall incorporate into the proposed rule any of the methods specified under sub. (2) which it finds to be feasible, unless doing so would be contrary to the statutory objectives which are the basis for the proposed rule.

227.114(4)(4) In addition to the requirements under s. 227.17, the agency shall provide an opportunity for small businesses to participate in the rule-making process, using one or more of the following methods:

227.114(4)(a)(a) The inclusion in the notice under s. 227.17 of a statement that the rule may have an impact on small businesses.

227.114(4)(b)(b) The direct notification of any small business that may be affected by the rule.

227.114(4)(c)(c) The conduct of public hearings concerning the impact of the rule on small businesses.

227.114(4)(d)(d) The use of special hearing procedures to reduce the cost or complexity of participation in the rule-making process by small businesses.

227.114(6)(6) When an agency, under s. 227.20 (1), files with the legislative reference bureau a rule that is subject to this section, the agency shall include with the rule a summary of the analysis prepared under s. 227.19 (3) (e) and a summary of the comments of the legislative standing committees, if any. If, under s. 227.19 (3m), the rule does not require the analysis under s. 227.19 (3) (e), the agency shall include with the rule a statement of the reason for the small business regulatory review board's determination that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small businesses. The legislative reference bureau shall publish the summaries or the statement in the register with the rule.

227.114(6m)(b)(b) A small business may commence an action against an agency for injunctive relief to prevent the imposition of a penalty if the small business is subject to the penalty as the result of any of the following:

227.114(6m)(b)1.1. The small business acted or failed to act due to the failure by the agency's employee, officer, or agent with regulatory responsibility for that legal requirement to respond to a specific question in a reasonable time.

227.114(6m)(b)2.2. The small business acted or failed to act in response to inaccurate advice given to the small business by the agency's employee, officer, or agent with regulatory responsibility for that legal requirement.

227.114(6m)(c)(c) The small business may commence the action in the circuit court for the county where the property affected is located or, if no property is affected, in the circuit court for the county where the dispute arose.

227.114(6m)(d)(d) The circuit court may issue an order enjoining the imposition of the penalty if the court determines that par. (b) 1. or 2. applies.

227.114(7m)(7m) Each agency shall designate at least one employee to serve as the small business regulatory coordinator for the agency, and shall publicize that employee's electronic mail address and telephone number. The small business regulatory coordinator shall act as a contact person for small business regulatory issues for the agency.

227.115(2)(a)(a) If a proposed rule may increase or decrease, either directly or indirectly, the cost of the development, construction, financing, purchasing, sale, ownership, or availability of housing in this state, the agency promulgating the proposed rule shall prepare a housing impact analysis for the proposed rule before it is submitted to the legislative council staff under s. 227.15. The agency may request any information from other state agencies, local governments, or individuals or organizations that is reasonably necessary for the agency to prepare the analysis.

227.115(2)(b)(b) On the same day that the agency submits the housing impact analysis to the legislative council staff under s. 227.15 (1), the agency shall also submit that analysis to the department of administration, to the governor, and to the chief clerks of each house of the legislature, who shall distribute the analysis to the presiding officers of their respective houses, to the chairpersons of the appropriate standing committees of their respective houses, as designated by those presiding officers, and to the cochairpersons of the joint committee for review of administrative rules. If a proposed rule is modified after the housing impact analysis is submitted under this paragraph so that the housing impact of the proposed rule is significantly changed, the agency shall prepare a revised housing impact analysis for the proposed rule as modified. A revised housing impact analysis shall be prepared and submitted in the same manner as an original housing impact analysis is prepared and submitted.

227.115(3)(a)(a) A housing impact analysis shall contain information about the effect of the proposed rule on housing in this state, including information on the effect of the proposed rule on all of the following:

227.115(3)(a)1.1. The policies, strategies and recommendations of the state housing strategy plan.

227.115(3)(c)1.1. Except as provided in subd. 2., a housing impact analysis shall provide reasonable estimates of the information under pars. (a) and (b) expressed as dollar figures and shall include descriptions of the immediate effect and, if ascertainable, the long-term effect. The agency shall include a brief summary or worksheet of computations used in determining any such dollar figures.

227.115(3)(c)2.2. If, after careful consideration, the agency determines that it is not possible to make an estimate expressed as dollar figures as provided in subd. 1., the analysis shall instead contain a statement to that effect setting forth the reasons for that determination.

227.115(3)(d)(d) Except as otherwise specified in par. (a), a housing impact analysis shall be prepared on the basis of a median-priced single-family residence but may include estimates for larger developments as an analysis of the long-term effect of the proposed rule.

227.115(4)(4)Applicability. This section does not apply to emergency rules promulgated under s. 227.24.

227.115 Annotation
Sub. (2) requires a report on the effect of a proposed rule on housing if the “rule directly or substantially affects the development, construction, cost, or availability of housing in this state. . ." The use of the phrase “directly or substantially" demonstrates that not just any effect will trigger the housing impact report requirement. A housing impact report is not required simply because the subject matter of a proposed rule relates to housing, or because the rule tangentially affects housing in some way. Wisconsin Realtors Association v. Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, 2015 WI 63, 363 Wis. 2d 430, 867 N.W.2d 364, 13-1407.

227.115 Annotation
The absence of an explicit, on-the-record determination regarding whether a housing impact report is required is not dispositive and does not mean rules were promulgated without compliance with statutory rule-making procedures. Wisconsin Realtors Association v. Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, 2015 WI 63, 363 Wis. 2d 430, 867 N.W.2d 364, 13-1407.

227.116(1g)(1g) In this section, “permit" means any approval of an agency required as a condition of operating a business in this state.

227.116(1r)(1r) Each proposed rule submitted to the legislative council under s. 227.15 that includes a requirement for a business to obtain a permit shall specify the number of business days, calculated beginning on the day a permit application is received, within which the agency will review and make a determination on a permit application.

227.116(2)(2) If any existing rule does not comply with sub. (1r), the agency that promulgated the rule shall submit to the legislative council a proposed revision of the rule that will bring the rule into compliance with sub. (1r). The legislative council staff's review of the proposed revision is limited to determining whether or not the agency has complied with this subsection.

227.116(3)(3)Subsections (1r) and (2) do not apply to a rule if the rule, or a law under which the rule was promulgated, effective prior to November 17, 1983, contains a specification of a time period for review and determination on a permit application.

227.116(4)(4) If an agency fails to review and make a determination on a permit application within the time period specified in a rule or law, for each such failure the agency shall prepare a report and submit it to the department of safety and professional services within 5 business days of the last day of the time period specified, setting forth all of the following:

227.116(4)(a)(a) The name of the person who submitted the permit application and the business activity for which the permit is required.

227.116(4)(b)(b) Why the review and determination were not completed within the specified time period and a specification of the revised time period within which the review and determination will be completed.

227.116(4)(c)(c) How the agency intends to avoid such failures in the future.

227.116(5)(5) If an agency fails to review and make a determination on a permit application within the time period specified in a rule or law, upon completion of the review and determination for that application, the agency shall notify the department of safety and professional services.

227.116(6)(a)(a) An agency's failure to review and make a determination on a permit application within the time period specified in a rule or law does not relieve any person from the obligation to secure a required permit nor affect in any way the agency's authority to interpret the requirements of or grant or deny permits.

227.116(6)(b)(b) If a court finds that an agency failed to review and make a determination on a permit application within the time period specified in a rule or law, that finding shall not constitute grounds for declaring the agency's determination invalid.

2015-16 Wisconsin Statutes updated through 2017 Wis. Act 136 and all Supreme Court and Controlled Substances Board Orders effective on or before February 3, 2018. Published and certified under s. 35.18. Changes effective after February 3, 2018 are designated by NOTES. (Published 2-3-18)